BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Lalji Tandon were among a number of activists arrested today while they were taking out a procession in support of the nation-wide bandh called by the party to protest fuel price hike.
Police baton-charged protestors when they tried to march towards main Hazratganj crossing this morning.
"A number of party workers and leaders were injured in the lathicharge," BJP leaders claimed.
In a bid to prevent BJP workers from marching towards the main market and Vidhan Bhawan, the entire area was barricaded and cordoned off by the police.
However, the party workers led by Naqvi and Jaitley crossed the barricade and attempted to march towards main Hazratganj crossing.
BJP workers also entered into a scuffle with the police and staged a dharna after being prevented from marching ahead.
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In a bid to disperse them, police first cane-charged the BJP workers and later arrested them.The senior leaders and workers have been taken to police lines.
Tight security arrangements have been made across Uttar Pradesh in view of the bandh called by the opposition parties.
Three hundred PAC personnel have been deployed in various districts of the state to maintain law and order during the bandh and to avoid any untoward incident, a senior officer said here.
In Lucknow, around 30 people associated with various political parties, including SP, have been taken into preventive custody.